Chapter 17
Chapter 17
65%
When we pulled up to Bogart’s, the place looked deceptively normal a quaint little coffee shop with a blue awning and flower boxes in the windows. It felt weird to picture it potentially bathed in blood by the end of today.
Talon helped me off his bike, pulling me in close and planting a kiss on my forehead. We still had almost an hour to kill before the time I was supposed to meet Craig.
The bell above the door chimed cheerfully as we walked into the shop. The smell of fresh coffee and pastries filled the air, a stark contrast to the dark tension humming through my body. The few patrons inside glanced up brielly, checking us out curiously before returning to their laptops and conversations.
Jake approached the counter, exchanging a meaningful look with the barista – a young, tattooed man with a handlebar mustache who I assumed was in on the plan. He nodded almost imperceptibly before turning to us with a friendly smile.
“What can I get for you folks today?” he asked, loud and cheerful, maintaining the illusion. I ordered a latte, more out of habit than any real desire to drink it.
Talon guided me to my designated table by the window, his hand resting protectively in its place on the small of my back. I sat facing the door and he leaned down to cup my face gently, his green eyes intense. “I love you, angel,” he said softly. before pressing a quick kiss to my lips. My stomach fluttered, hearing those words. “I love you, too, Talon.” I whispered before he turned with a wink and headed toward the kitchen
The time went by agonizingly slowly as everyone got into position. I sat nervously at my table, hands wrapped around the latte I hadn’t sipped. My eyes kept darting to the clock on the wall, watching the minutes tick by.
I could see Talon’s silhouette through the small window in the kitchen door, his posture tense, mirroring my own anxiety. A few Warriors and Diablos were scattered throughout the cafe and surrounding area, doing their best to look inconspicuous.
As 3 PM approached, my heart began to race. I fiddled with my earpiece, making sure it was secure. “Testing, testing,” I whispered.
“We hear you loud and clear, angel,” Talon’s voice came through, low and comforting.
At 3:06, the bell above the door chimed and Craig stepped in. He looked different than I remembered thinner, with dark circles under his eyes and stubble across his face. His usually impeccable suit was wrinkled, like he’d been sleeping in it. But his eyes were the same cold and calculating as they swept the room before landing on me.
I forced a small smile as he approached my table. “Craig,” I said softly, hating how small my voice sounded. “Thank you for coming
He slid into the seat across from me, his lips curling into a smirk. “Well, well, well.. look who came crawling back.”
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay calm and keep my eyes downcast, playing the role of submissive wife. “I. I made at mistake, Craig. I shouldn’t have left like that.” The words tasted like ash in my mouth.
Craig leaned back in his chair, a look of smug amusement on his face. “Oh? And what made you realize that? Did your little biker boys get tired of you already?”
I shook my head, forcing tears to my eyes. It’s just not what I thought it would be. I don’t feel safe there. I miss our life together. Each lie felt like a knife in my gut. “I miss you”
Craig’s smirk widened, a predatory gleam in his eyes. “Is that so? And what makes you think I’d take you back after the stunt you pulled?” he spat, glancing once more around the cafe.
“I’m sorry. I know I hurt you. Everything happened so fast, I was overwhelmed. But I’ve had time to think, and I know now that my place is with you. Please, Craig,” I murmured, reaching out to take his hand.
He was quiet for a long moment, and I glanced up into his eyes. Finally, he leaned forward, crushing my hand in his, his
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Chapter 17
voice low and dangerous. “You think it’s that easy! You humiliated me. I might to fucking kill you for You deserve to die”
- it.
Tears began rolling down my cheeks as he threw my hand out of his and sat back to enjoy my pain. He’d thought his words had cut me deep, but I was just buying time. With one hand wiping tears from my face with the sleeve of my sweater, I reached the other back slowly and pulled the gun from my waistband, silently training it on him under the table. My hear was thrumming with nerves, but his words had triggered something in me – a rush of anger that overshadowed my anxiety.
“You’re right, Craig.” I said softly, my voice steadier than I expected. “I do deserve to feel like shit. But not for leaving you. For staying with you as long as I did. For letting you beat me, manipulate me into thinking I was worthless”
Craig’s eyes widened at my sudden change in demeanor. “What the fuck are you playing at he snarled.
“And you’re also right about someone deserving to die today,” I continued. “But it’s not me.”
I leaned forward, my voice low but firm as I cocked my gun underneath the table. “I know about the guns, Craig. I know about the money you’ve been stealing from the Diablos. Did you really think you could get away with it all?”
Craig’s face contorted with rage as he realized what was happening. He moved to Junge across the table but froze at the sound of multiple chair legs scraping across the floor. Warriors and Diablos emerged from their hiding spots, weapons
trained on him.
“Don’t even think about it,” Jake growled as he and Talon emerged from the kitchen.
Craig’s eyes darted around the room, realizing he was surrounded. His gaze settled back on me, burning with hatred. “You Stupid. Bitch,” he seethed, articulating each word. “You have no idea what you’ve done.”
I kept my gun trained on him, my hand coming up above the table as the door chimed once more and Shadow stepped inside. As Craig wheeled around to see who was joining us. Shadow brought the butt of his 9mm down on his head.
Craig crumpled to the floor, unconscious from the blow. The cafe erupted into controlled chaos as our men swarmed in. securing the area and checking for any of Craig’s men who might’ve followed him.
I
sat frozen, my gun still trained on Craig’s limp form. My hands were shaking with the adrenaline coursing through my veins. Suddenly Talon was at my side, gently prying my weapon from my fingers
“It’s okay, angel,” he murmured, pulling me in close. “It’s over now.” I melted into his chest, inhaling his familiar scent as tears began to fall freely down my face.
Jake approached me, his face a mixture of pride and concern. “You did great, sis.” He rested a hand on my shoulder as 1 turned back to look at Craig
“Well done, little bird,” Shadow drawled, his eyes flicking to me. “You played your part beautifully.”
Then Craig began to stir, regaining consciousness. Shadow loomed over him, a sadistic look in his eyes. “Hello, Harmon. Long time no see.”
Craig’s eyes widened in fear as he recognized Shadow. “This is all a misunderstanding,” he stammered, scrambling to back away across the floor. “I can explain”
Shadow chuckled darkly. “Oh, I’m sure you can. And you will. But not here.”
He nodded to two of his men who grabbed Craig by the arms and hauled him to his feet. Craig struggled against their grip. his eyes wild with panic. “Laura, please,” he begged, “you can’t let them take me. They’ll kill me!”
I felt a rush of emotions, the biggest among them a twisted sense of satisfaction. But mostly, I felt nothing. The man who had terrorized me for so long suddenly seemed so small and helpless
“Good,” I spat as they dragged him out the door.
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I stood there watching, shaking as they threw him into the back of a black SUV. The adrenaline was gone and quickly being replaced with exhaustion.
Talon’s arms tightened around me protectively. “You okay?” he murmured into my hair.
I nodded weakly against his chest. “Yeah, I think so. It’s just… a lot.”
Jake approached, his face grim. “We need to clear out of here. Cops’ll be here soon.”
As if on cue, sirens began to wail in the distance, getting closer by the second.
“Let’s go,” Talon said, guiding me toward the door. We Inurried to the bikes, Talon helping me climb on behind him. As we roared away from the scene, I clung tightly to his waist, burying my face in his back.
